Alexander Vargas

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #28 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: As an amateur, Vargas was expected to sign with Cincinnati. Instead, the Yankees added him to a haul that also included future trade pieces Kevin Alcantara and Maikol Escotto. He showed promise in his first season as a pro—split between the two complex-league affiliates—before repeating the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Vargas has continued to add strength to his frame and now checks in at a much more formidable 162 pounds, but he still has a long way to go. His average exit velocity in 2021 was roughly 83 mph, among the lowest in the entire system. As he continues to gain strength, the Yankees believe his raw tools will be better amplified. Outside evaluators would like to see more consistency in his game. They note the potential for plus defense and plus speed, but also that he gets lackadaisical and takes plays off. Sometimes he’ll make the highlight-reel play, other times he’ll boot routine grounders. They also note a tendency to get out of his approach and become too much of a free-swinger.
  
  The Future: After two years in the lowest levels of the minor leagues sandwiched around a pandemic, Vargas will need to move up at least to Low-A Tampa.
  
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #13 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees went big on the international market in 2018, including a foray into Cuba to nab Vargas, who had been expected to sign with Cincinnati, for $2.5 million. He started his career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where his quick-twitch athleticism helped him rank No. 9 among the league's Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The most exciting part about Vargas' development is the addition of roughly 30 pounds of good weight without sacrificing his ability to play a strong defensive shortstop. Vargas' new body also allowed him to reduce a big leg kick in favor of a much quieter swing, which the Yankees believe will go a long way toward him handling high-velocity fastballs. He's a double-plus runner with soft hands and skilled feet and an arm that has improved to correspond with his gains in the weight room.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vargas was at the Yankees' instructional league in the D.R. and should be able to reach low Class A once the minor leagues get going in 2021. He has the ceiling of a leadoff-type shortstop.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #22 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Another part of a pack of talented players the Yankees signed during the 2018 international signing period, Vargas was somewhat of a surprise signing. He was expected to ink with the Reds later in the period but agreed with the Yankees for $2.5 million. He made his pro debut mostly in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019 and ranked No. 9 among the circuit's Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vargas' standout tool is his speed, which is at least double-plus. He produced home-to-first times of quicker than 4.15 seconds from both sides of the plate. Vargas is a spray-type hitter from both sides of the plate and showed no discernible platoon split in his first exposure to pro ball, although Yankees officials note that his launch angle was typically higher as a lefthanded hitter. At shortstop, Vargas shows tremendous hands and feet that somewhat make up for a fringe-average arm. He's got the upside of a table-setting shortstop who can cause havoc on the basepaths.
  
  THE FUTURE: After starting in extended spring training, he should move to Rookie-level Pulaski in 2020.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #9 prospect in 2019
  The Reds had exceeded their international bonus pool in 2016-17, so they couldn’t sign any international players for more than $300,000 the next two signing periods. Vargas was expected to wait until July 2, 2019 to sign with the Reds, but he instead ended up signing with the Yankees in July 2018 for $2.5 million. Vargas sticks out for his defensive skills at shortstop. Vargas is an athletic defender with a quick first step and good range. His hands and feet work well and his field awareness is advanced for his age. Vargas has quality hitting actions, good feel for the strike zone and bat-to-ball skills to make consistent contact. However, because he’s so thin and has little strength, Vargas does little damage when he does connect, so getting stronger will be critical for his development, even if it’s just to hit at the bottom of a lineup. He is a plus runner who stole 13 bases without getting caught in the GCL.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: As an amateur, Vargas was expected to sign with Cincinnati. Instead, the Yankees added him to a haul that also included future trade pieces Kevin Alcantara and Maikol Escotto. He showed promise in his first season as a pro—split between the two complex-league affiliates—before repeating the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Vargas has continued to add strength to his frame and now checks in at a much more formidable 162 pounds, but he still has a long way to go. His average exit velocity in 2021 was roughly 83 mph, among the lowest in the entire system. As he continues to gain strength, the Yankees believe his raw tools will be better amplified. Outside evaluators would like to see more consistency in his game. They note the potential for plus defense and plus speed, but also that he gets lackadaisical and takes plays off. Sometimes he’ll make the highlight-reel play, other times he’ll boot routine grounders. They also note a tendency to get out of his approach and become too much of a free-swinger.
  
  The Future: After two years in the lowest levels of the minor leagues sandwiched around a pandemic, Vargas will need to move up at least to Low-A Tampa.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees went big on the international market in 2018, including a foray into Cuba to nab Vargas, who had been expected to sign with Cincinnati, for $2.5 million. He started his career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where his quick-twitch athleticism helped him rank No. 9 among the league's Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The most exciting part about Vargas' development is the addition of roughly 30 pounds of good weight without sacrificing his ability to play a strong defensive shortstop. Vargas' new body also allowed him to reduce a big leg kick in favor of a much quieter swing, which the Yankees believe will go a long way toward him handling high-velocity fastballs. He's a double-plus runner with soft hands and skilled feet and an arm that has improved to correspond with his gains in the weight room.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vargas was at the Yankees' instructional league in the D.R. and should be able to reach low Class A once the minor leagues get going in 2021. He has the ceiling of a leadoff-type shortstop.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees went big on the international market in 2018, including a foray into Cuba to nab Vargas, who had been expected to sign with Cincinnati, for $2.5 million. He started his career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where his quick-twitch athleticism helped him rank No. 9 among the league's Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The most exciting part about Vargas' development is the addition of roughly 30 pounds of good weight without sacrificing his ability to play a strong defensive shortstop. Vargas' new body also allowed him to reduce a big leg kick in favor of a much quieter swing, which the Yankees believe will go a long way toward him handling high-velocity fastballs. He's a double-plus runner with soft hands and skilled feet and an arm that has improved to correspond with his gains in the weight room.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vargas was at the Yankees' instructional league in the D.R. and should be able to reach low Class A once the minor leagues get going in 2021. He has the ceiling of a leadoff-type shortstop.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees went big on the international market in 2018, including a foray into Cuba to nab Vargas, who had been expected to sign with Cincinnati, for $2.5 million. He started his career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where his quick-twitch athleticism helped him rank No. 9 among the league's Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The most exciting part about Vargas' development is the addition of roughly 30 pounds of good weight without sacrificing his ability to play a strong defensive shortstop. Vargas' new body also allowed him to reduce a big leg kick in favor of a much quieter swing, which the Yankees believe will go a long way toward him handling high-velocity fastballs. He's a double-plus runner with soft hands and skilled feet and an arm that has improved to correspond with his gains in the weight room.
  
  THE FUTURE: Vargas was at the Yankees' instructional league in the D.R. and should be able to reach low Class A once the minor leagues get going in 2021. He has the ceiling of a leadoff-type shortstop.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Another part of a pack of talented players the Yankees signed during the 2018 international signing period, Vargas was somewhat of a surprise signing. He was expected to ink with the Reds later in the period but agreed with the Yankees for $2.5 million. He made his pro debut mostly in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019 and ranked No. 9 among the circuit’s Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vargas’ standout tool is his speed, which is at least double-plus. He produced home- BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme to-first times of quicker than 4.15 seconds from both sides of the plate. Vargas is a spray-type hitter from both sides of the plate and showed no discernible platoon split in his first exposure to pro ball, although Yankees officials note that his launch angle was typically higher as a lefthanded hitter. At shortstop, Vargas shows tremendous hands and feet that somewhat make up for a fringe-average arm. He’s got the upside of a table-setting shortstop who can cause havoc on the basepaths.
  
  THE FUTURE: After starting in extended spring training, he should move to Rookie-level Pulaski in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Another part of a pack of talented players the Yankees signed during the 2018 international signing period, Vargas was somewhat of a surprise signing. He was expected to ink with the Reds later in the period but agreed with the Yankees for $2.5 million. He made his pro debut mostly in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019 and ranked No. 9 among the circuit's Top 20 prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Vargas' standout tool is his speed, which is at least double-plus. He produced home-to-first times of quicker than 4.15 seconds from both sides of the plate. Vargas is a spray-type hitter from both sides of the plate and showed no discernible platoon split in his first exposure to pro ball, although Yankees officials note that his launch angle was typically higher as a lefthanded hitter. At shortstop, Vargas shows tremendous hands and feet that somewhat make up for a fringe-average arm. He's got the upside of a table-setting shortstop who can cause havoc on the basepaths.
  
  THE FUTURE: After starting in extended spring training, he should move to Rookie-level Pulaski in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Reds had exceeded their international bonus pool in 2016-17, so they couldn’t sign any international players for more than $300,000 the next two signing periods. Vargas was expected to wait until July 2, 2019 to sign with the Reds, but he instead ended up signing with the Yankees in July 2018 for $2.5 million. Vargas sticks out for his defensive skills at shortstop. Vargas is an athletic defender with a quick first step and good range. His hands and feet work well and his field awareness is advanced for his age. Vargas has quality hitting actions, good feel for the strike zone and bat-to-ball skills to make consistent contact. However, because he’s so thin and has little strength, Vargas does little damage when he does connect, so getting stronger will be critical for his development, even if it’s just to hit at the bottom of a lineup. He is a plus runner who stole 13 bases without getting caught in the GCL.